Tray construction



y 0, 1956 'r. M. DUNHAM TRAY CONSTRUCTION Filed March 2, 1953 .Ejz Enfmr' United States Patent TRAY CONSTRUCTION Thomas M. Dunham, Batavia, 111., assignor to Aurora Equipment Company, Aurora, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 2, 1953, Serial No. 339,833 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-22) This invention relates to a tray and more particularly to a metal tray of the type adapted to be slidably received in a metal cabinet.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved slidable tray which is economical to manufacture and which lends itself to receiving and segregating small parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple partition metal tray wherein dividers are so arranged that they may be readily adjusted to selective positions without the necessity of using any bolts or similar fastening means.

Yet, another object of this invention is to provide each parts contained in the sepa- In accordance with the general features of this invention, there is provided a metal tray comprising a framelike structure including vertical sides defining the sides and ends of the tray, a longitudinal trough in the structure extending between the sides and including a bottom and front and rear walls, one of which walls has at its upper edge a horizontal transverse flange-like ledge extending part way over the top of the channel in the trough and a divider plate extending transversely of the channel of the trough and hooked under the flange-like ledge, the other wall being at least partly inclined away from the bottom and the divider plate having an inclined edge snugly nested and bottomed against said inclined wall.

Another feature of the invention relates to so forming the overhanging top flange of the trough that it can accommodate an indicia strip for designating the contents of the compartments of each trough.

Yet, another feature of the invention relates to so forming the bottom of the trough with upstanding ribs that the lower edge of the divider may be tightly received between the ribs for properly positioning the divider.

Another and further feature of the invention relates to forming one edge of the divider with an integral tab adapted to be interlocked in a slot in the overhanging flange of an adjoining trough.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with accompanying drawings which illus trate a single embodiment thereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my novel slidable tray;

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line II-II of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and showing by dotted lines how one of the dividers can be raised out of a trough for removal or adjustment to another position in the trough;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally on the line IIIIII of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and showing slots in the ledge or flange of a trough for receiving the locking tip of the divider in the trough to the front thereof; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view showing more clearly how the dividers are interlocked in the slots of the horizontal indicia carrying flange or ledge.

As shown on the drawings:

The tray of this invention may be made from any suitable material although it lends itself to manufacture from sheet metal. It comprises a frame-like structure including front and rear sides or ends 10 and 11 and longitudinal sides 1212. The back 11 and the sides 12-12 may be formed from one piece of metal and suitably fastened to the front side 10 as by welding or the like. In addition, the front side has formed integral with it a finger grip extension 13 by means of which the tray or drawer can be manipulated for sliding it into and out of a compartment of a suitable metal cabinet (not shown).

Positioned in this frame-like structure made up of the aforesaid sides are a series of transverse parallel troughs designated generally by the reference character 15 and which are disposed parallel to the rear and front sides 11 and 10. Since these troughs are substantially identical, a description of one will suffice for all.

Each of the troughs 15, as best shown in Figure 2, includes a bottom 16 and an upstanding vertical rear wall- 17 and a front wall 18 which is at least partly inclined as indicated at 19 so as to be disposed at an angle to the horizontal. The bottom 16 of the trough has a series of pairs of longitudinally extending ribs 20 as best shown in Figures 1 and 2. The upstanding ribs of each pair are closely spaced together for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The rear wall 17 of each trough terminates at its upper end in a horizontally extending flange or ledge 21 overhanging the channel in the trough. The free edge of this flange or ledge is turned back upon itself at 22. Also, in the case of three of the four troughs, the front wall 18 of each trough terminates in an angular extension 23 overhanging the flange or ledge 21 so as to cooperate with the other angular edge 22 to define an indicia card-receiving channel 25. This channel 25 is adapted to have slid underwise into it a strip of cardboard or the like (not shown) on which is typed or written indicia indicative of the parts contained in the different sections of the associated trough.

A similar indicia receiving channel 25 is provided over the rearmost trough 15 by providing the rear side 11 of the frame channel with an upturned inclined lip 26 which cooperates with the associated inclined edge 22 to provide the channel 25.

Now, each of the channel-like troughs 15 is adapted to receive a series of parallel plate-like dividers 30. Each of these dividers includes a vertical rear edge 31 for abutment against the rear wall 17 of the trough, a bottom edge 32 for abutment against the bottom trough wall 16, and a front partly inclined edge 33 for snug engagement and bottoming against the inclined surface 19 of the front wall 18 of the trough. In addition, this front edge is provided with a locking tab 34 adapted to engage in a slot 35 in rear wall 17 slightly below the ledge 21 of the adjoining trough (Figure 3).

As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, a series of spaced slots 35 may be provided corresponding in number with the pairs of ribs 20. Each of these slots 35 (Figure 3) is substantially in vertical alignment with the space between a pair of ribs so that when the locking tab 34 is in one of the slots 35 the bottom edge of the divider is engaged in and between the closely spaced pair of ribs n ali nment wi h e slot.

In addition, the ledge or flange 21 is provided at its angular edge 22 with a series of slots 35 corresponding in numbfir to the slots 35 and each being longitudinally aligned with a slot 35. The top edge of the'divider is cut away at 30a which terminates in a beveled edge 30b .(Eigure .4). The top edge 39:: at the front of the divider terminates in a locking tab 30c which is adapted to fit in the slot 35 as the divider is progressively hooked into the trough from the dotted line position shown in Figure 2 to the full line position. Thus, the divider is firmly held in vertical position at both the front and rear edges and also at its bottom edge. Y

Th dotted lines in Figure 2 indicate the position of the diyider in the process of being inserted under the ledge gliof the trough. This feature enables the ledge to serve the dual purpose of assisting in holding the divider in position in the trough and also of providing a support for an indicia strip (not shown).

By raising the divider 30 to the dotted line position, it can be easily slid lengthwise of the trough for changing its position or, in other words, to engage it between any desired pair of ribs 20. This enables the size of the compartments in each trough to be varied as desired so as to accommodate different sized parts.

In addition, it will be perceived that the ledge 21 serves the additional function of assisting in preventing displacement of the parts from the trough either accidentally or in. the. process of manually removing some of the parts by sliding them out ofthe trough. By reason of the inclined Contour. of the front wall of the trough, the fingers of a person may easily slide parts out of the trough which is particularly desirable when the parts are small, such, for example, as would be true in the case of bolts, nuts, washers and the like.

In Figure. 2 it will be noted that side has a depending flange having an underneath surface cooperable with tab 3!! on divider 30. The retaining action of the tab 34 with the above mentioned surface cooperates together in much the same manner as does tab34 with ledge surface 21 opening into slots 35.

From the foregoing, it is clear that by the use of the very simple. overhanging flange am enabled to acCon'iQ plish a. number ofhighly desirable functions and advantages Without materially adding to the cost of the tray. At thev same time, I am enabled to use this ledge to reinforce, the tray. and to provide stability particularly in the retention of the dividers in place.

In conclusion, it will be appreciated that the end eittremities of the trough may be suitably securedto the sides 12-12 as by means of welding, soldering or the like although any other suitable fastening maybe eniployed without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. As an article of manufacture, a tray comprising a frame-like structure, adjoining longitudinal troughs each defining a channel in said frame-like structure with at least two of said adjacent troughs having at their junction a horizontal flange partially overlying the channel of one trough, said flange being connected to the wall of one trough and having its margin turned back upon i self to d fi e a s eev he Wall. of the t e r u h l s ng. a esi e er an flan e t wa d sai urned mar to define with said flange another groove opposite to but horizontally aligned with said first groove capable of receiving and maintaining an indi'cia strip on said flange.

2. In a tray, 2 fragrgglili? trugtpre having adjoining channeled troughs having spaced sides defined at least in part by spaced vertical walls, one of the walls of one trough being turned at substantially right angles back over the channel thereof into a generally horizontal ledge partially overlying said channel to partially cover the channel and a transverse divider in the channel hooked under said'cove'ririg ledgein interlocking engagement therewith at one side of the trough and at the other side of the trough being interlocked with the other wall of the channeled trough, said divider being generally perpendicular to said ledge and being notched out at a portion of its upper edge to receive said ledge and at least partially in contact with the under surface of said covering ledge at the notch to assist in supporting the ledge in said notch, said ledge being transversely slit at spaced intervals partially through the width of the ledge ande'ach slit receivingan upper edge portion of said divider: adjoining its notch for interlocking said divider to. said ledge. 

